via this auction
[Update: more info posted here.]
Here's one never featured on the site before. A Waldek Sound Synthesizer. If it is indeed from the 1970s, I'm curious about it's history and why it never came up before. The following is the description from the listing. If you know more, feel free to leave a comment or shoot me an email. Note the listing has it as Waldek, but you can see it is Waldeck on the bottom right.
"Talk about weird gear! Are you brave enough for the WALDEK modular synthesizer? I’m working on a demo for you guys but obviously with nothing to go except what you see, this will take an evening or two. Unit is labeled as a "Waldek Sound Synthesizer". There is no manufacturing date or city/country of origin (I believe it to be US Made). The Instructional manual and connecting cables are missing, although they appear to be RCA style. It has 3 separate channels of Oscillation. And has controls for, Ring, Noise, Pre-amp, Envelope, Bandpass & Lowpass Filters, Pan and Reverb. The unit powers up as indicated by the pilot light. Beyond that there is no certainty of operation and the buyer is buying this with this full knowledge. The unit is hand signed on the back,"Weldek- Z. Waldek ATW Technology". My research has failed to identify this company or individual through an online search engine. Although, other individuals who own the same unit, seem to date it late 60s early 70s but have no further information beyond that. This unit may be a genuine relic as an example of early synth history, or it may be adapted to experimental uses in unconventional instruments other than Keyboards. Either way the mystery and intrigue is worth the price of admission."
I have one. I built it in his class at the Chicago Art Institute form scrapped kits that littered storage room. I am replacing the caps at the moment, it hasn't been played with in 35 years. The oscillators, super simple junction transistors, are temperature sensitive and need to be tuned, best with a scope, or by ear. It has a mechanical reverb, mega fun. Steve made them as a kit, intended to be affordable, and they sold for 250 bucks. He told me that it was pricey for a kit, but cheap for a synth in the mid 70's. Steve was beamed up to the great Radio Shack in the sky years ago.
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